I’m sticking with Toulon, insists Webb
RHYS Webb says he won’t be changing his mind over his move to Toulon.
The Ospreys and Wales scrum-half will join the French giants next summer in a threeyear deal which will see him become the first high-profile victim of Welsh rugby’s new international selection policy.
With the previous policy, otherwise known as Gatland’s Law, having been scrapped, players who move outside of the regional game must now have 60 caps under their belts to ensure they can continue to play for Wales. Webb has just 28. When announcing the new policy Gatland suggested that Webb has an opt-out in his Toulon contract which could see him decide to remain in Wales.
But in an interview with BBC Sport Wales, Webb reiterated that he will honour the deal and move to the south of France.
“I won’t be doing that (opting out of Toulon deal). My future lies in Toulon,” he said.
Webb told Wales Online earlier in the week that he was unaware of Gatland’s new ruling about players plying their trade overseas.
And he has reiterated that he agreed to join to Toulon on the basis that the previous selection policy, based on picking a certain number of so-called ‘wildcards’ would be adhered to.
“I made my mind up on the basis that the policy was the wildcard system. No-one had mentioned it was going to change,” he said.
“I signed for Toulon on the basis if I was playing well I could still be considered.
“It was still such a tough decision. It’s baffling. I’m very disappointed with Welsh rugby right now.”
RHYS Webb will round off his week from hell by missing the Ospreys’ Champions Cup clash against Saracens at Allianz Park this evening (7.45pm).
The scrum-half learned on Monday that under Wales’s new selection policy his Test career would grind to a halt next season unless he pulls out of his move to Toulon.
Webb has confirmed he isn’t going to do that and he hit out in an emotional outburst by branding his imminent international exclusion ‘a joke’.
And just when he could have been forgiven for thinking matters couldn’t get any worse, he has had to withdraw from an important European match because of injury.
The 28-cap player left the pitch towards the end of the Ospreys’ game with Clermont Auvergne last weekend. The Ospreys say he has a knee problem and they field Tom Habberfield at No.9, with New Zealander Brendon Leonard on the bench.
The Welsh region make five changes in all from the side that went down 26-21 to the French.
Jeff Hassler and Habberfield return behind, while up front Sam Parry, Adam Beard and James King come back.
There is also a welcome reappearance on the bench of Scott Baldwin, three weeks after he picked up a lion bite while in South Africa for the Guinness PRO14 game with the Cheetahs.
He was witheringly criticised for putting his hand in a cage and attempting to pet the animal, but Ospreys forwards coach Allen Clarke said the matter should now be really consigned to the past.
“Scott knows that he did something that he shouldn’t have done,” said the Irishman. “He got carried away in the moment. “But I try to treat every young man as if he’s my son.
“If he was my son, I’d say: ‘You’re a lucky boy, but let’s move on in life, learn from it and start showing resilience’.
“I was very close to him at the time and I can see how it could happen.
“I’ve probably done some stupid things myself in my life and I’ve got away with them.
“For me, he’s a decent young man who has kept his head down and worked hard.
“I can only judge him on the last three months. I’d park it and move on.”
Dan Lydiate returned to form against Clermont after a slow-burn spell following a return from long-term injury. Lydiate didn’t just defend solidly, he also carried a lot of ball.
“I thought he was absolutely fantastic, as good as what there was on the field,” said Clarke.
“He’s a tremendous individual, one of many in this group.
“He shows real energy and an appetite to learn regardless of what level he’s played at. “And he’s all about the team.” The Ospreys face a huge challenge against a side who went to the east Midlands and thrashed Northampton Saints 57-13 last time out.
But they are enjoying being underdogs.
Flanker Justin Tipuric said: It’s been a difficult spell, one of the most difficult I can remember for the club. “But one game can change it all. “We are going up there against one of the best sides in Europe, but we have nothing to lose.
“Everyone is writing us off. We just want to go there, play good rugby and do ourselves justice.” Saracens: A Goode; L Williams, D Taylor, B Barritt (capt), C Wyles; O Farrell, R Wigglesworth; M Vunipola, S Brits, J Figallo, N Isiekwe, G Kruis, M Itoje, J Wray, C Clark. Reps: J George, R Barrington, .V Koch, W Skelton, S Burger, B Spencer, A Lozowski, N Tompkins. Ospreys: D Evans; J Hassler, K Fonotia, O Watkin, C Allen; D Biggar, T Habberfield; N Smith, S Parry, D Arhip, A Beard, AW Jones (capt), D Lydiate, J King, J Tipuric. Reps: S Baldwin, P James, M Fia, L Ashley, G Mercer, B Leonard, S Davies, J Hook. Referee: Marius Mitrea (Ita).